Team Washington 2018

Join Special Olympics athletes, coaches, and fans from around the country to support your Team Washington delegation to the 2018 USA Games!

The Mission

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Corporations that partner with Special Olympics share our brand values. We are a trusted organization reaching deep into local communities around the world. Our Programs succeed in changing lives, building advocacy networks and creating a lasting positive impact. Consumers recognize us as a brand deserving respect, loyalty and good will with 95% positive brand recognition in the United States.

About the USA Games

The USA Games showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities and the impact of Special Olympics through world-class competition, inspirational experiences, and modeling inclusion for all.

The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will be held in Seattle, Washington July 1-7, 2018. More than 4,000 athletes and coaches representing 50 state Programs and the District of Columbia, along with the support of tens of thousands of volunteers and spectators, will compete in 14 Olympic-type team and individual sports.

Paddleboarding

Volleyball

After a short hiatus, Volleyball has returned to Washington State. Our first official State champions in over fifteen years, from Skagit Valley, our athletes are ready to take on the rest of the country.

Coaches

“Teaching in the 253 (Tacoma) for 20 years, 19 of them as a proud Wilson Ram, 7 of them as the Unified Champion Schools Advisor and Coach! Just a humble individual living in a crazy world. Passionate about helping kids successfully navigate high school and beyond. Avid sports fan, reader, and lover of dogs. Proudly … Continue reading “Kimberly Van Ry”

Ken has been involved with Special Olympics for 20 years. He mainly has been a part of Bocce. He is excited for USA Games because this will be the first time he will be able to see his Daughter Courtney compete at the national level.

Morgan has been involved with Special Olympics for 8 years and she has been a unified partner, coach and even a volunteer for regional games when she attended college. Morgan is excited for USA games because its an opportunity for athletes and partners of all abilities to showcase their skills at a national level. She … Continue reading “Morgan Larche”

Jasmair Bains does it all, coaches, participates as a unified partner and does all the planning for UW Unified program. He has been involved in someway for 8 years and has no intention to stop. Jasmair loves Special Olympics because it is a space where everyone is treated equally. Jas is has had many memories … Continue reading “Jasmair Bains”

Pam has been involved with Special Olympics for 5 years and has coached bowling, basketball, soccer and softball. She is excited for USA Games because she wants to see all the athletes show off their abilities and how hard they have worked to be able to compete in the games. Pam loves Special Olympics because … Continue reading “Pam Schmidt”

Stephen has been involved with Special Olympics for over 8 years, and is the Head of Delegation for Team Washington. Stephen first became involved with Special Olympics as his Cousin’s Unified Partner in bowling. He quickly found a passion for the Special Olympics Community, and is currently on staff as the East Region’s Sr. Manager … Continue reading “Stephen Opland”

Tim is from Port Orchard and has been involved in Special Olympics for 17 years now. He is an impeccable coach with knowledge in basketball, socccer, bowling, and softball. Tim can’t wait to see how well his flag football team does at National Games.

Tara Davis fights hard through and through for everything Unified in the Greater Seattle Area. She is an assistant director of athletics for the Seattle School district and has a love and passion for Special Olympics.

Stuart, also known as Stu has been involved for 12 years Stu is excited for the games because it will give his team the opportunity to play teams that are all over the USA. He loves Special Olympics because the spirit that the athletes have is inspiring, the athletes never give up and even when … Continue reading “Stuart Snow”

Randy will be coaching the Volleyball team that will be representing Team Washington in July. He has been involved for 25 years. Randy’s favorite memory in his time coaching was watching his son compete in the 2001 winter world games in Anchorage Alaska.

Patty has been involved in Special Olympics for 28 years. Patty has never been a part of USA Games and is really excited to see all the fun that the athletes will get to have during the week. One of her favorite memories is when athletes try their hardest to learn how to do a … Continue reading “Patty Studdard”

Kevin’s favorite memory to date is when the Othello High School Unified team won the 2017 Division 1 state championships last May. Though he will say everyday is such an awesome and inspiring experience as the kids are awesome! SOWA used to just be something that he had heard of but really didn’t connect to … Continue reading “Kevin McDonald”

Kathrine has been involved in the Special Olympics for 4 years now. She coaches the Bulldogs of Clark County. Kathrine is very excited to experience the games with the athletes. One of her favorite memories was winning state in Soccer and qualifying with her team to go to USA Games. Kathrine loves Special Olympics very … Continue reading “Katherine Taylor”

This is Elaine’s first year working with Special Olympics. She is an amazing gymnastics coach who is adored by her girls and is so excited to have gymnastics back as an event in Washington. She is also very excited to see her 5 girls show off and have fun.

Brian will be the head coach for bocce at USA Games. He is very excited for this, his first experience with Special Olympics was through bocce a little over a year ago so he is excited to continue the journey of that. Brian loves Special Olympics because the organization is so much more than just a sports organization. Through the various health and wellness initiatives and leadership opportunities, Special Olympics cares about the growth and success of thier athletes on and off the field through inclusive opportunities. Brian states, ” I simply couldn’t imagine my life without Special Olympics”

Brenda Devine has done it all in her involvement with the Special Olympics for the past 15 years. From a chaperone, to being a head coach, to an Area Director Brenda is a superwoman. Her most treasured memory was watching her daughters happiness in participating in SOWA year round since she was 8 years old. … Continue reading “Brenda Devine”

“I have been volunteer for Special Olympics Washington for more then 16 years. I started the Bremerton Kitsap Athletic Teams (BKAT) Sports Program in 2002 in Basketball with two teams consisting of 13 athletes. I now oversee as the BKAT Program Coordinator which support over 400 athletes, 100 unified partners, more then 75 volunteers and … Continue reading “Barb Pool”

Amy is the head coach for the swim team that will be competing for team Washington. She has been involved in the Special Olympics for 18 years. Amy is most looking forward to sharing the experience of athletes coming together from across our nation to celebrate the abilities and sportsmanship that Special Olympics makes possible.

Kiffani began her involvement with the Special Olympics in 2002 at the age of 15. She first started as just a volunteer for the swimming program but eventually took the program and ran with it. One of her favorite memories is telling volunteers how cool Special Olympics is and why she loves it so much. … Continue reading “Kiffani Iverson”

Jeff has been involved in the Special Olympics for 8 years and has been coaching softball, basketball, football and golf. Jeff is excited for USA Games because it will be a great opportunity to play sports and help others.

Dave has been coaching basketball for 15 years. He is excited for USA games because the athletes and partners will be able to build relationships and meet new people. Dave’s favorite memories is seeing the smiles and the joy that comes with SOWA. He loves Special Olympics because it allows him to actively support his … Continue reading “Dave Walser”

Colton has been involved in the Special Olympics for 5 years and coaches soccer, softball, basketball and track and field. He is most excited in USA games to be able to represent Washington State. One of Colton’s favorite memories was traveling to Washington DC with CEO Dave Lenox.

Greg’s story first started in 1978 where he coached for a delegation in Special Olympics Hawaii. He then adopted his son Todd in 1991 and was able to continue coaching and raising his son. When moving to Port Orchard Greg then began coaching in the South Kitsap program. His fondest memory is when Todd was … Continue reading “Greg Weathers”

Tim is from Mount Vernon and will be an assistant coach for the Volleyball team attending. He has been involve in the Special Olympics in someway for 47 years. Tim loves Special Olympics because it allows athletes to have opportunities to build relationships, develop confidence, and actively participate in the community.

Luke is an awesome part of the Special Olympics Washington Staff and will be the Head Coach for Golf. He has been a part of Special Olympics for a little over a year now and he loves it. He is most excited for USA games to bring awareness to the organization and the recognition it … Continue reading “Luke Wall”

Jennifer has been involved various capacities in Special Olympics for the last 8 years. She currently is a Regional Manager for the games and works at Special Olympics Washington. Jennifer’s favorite memory over the last 8 years is watching athletes excelling in areas they never though were possible. Jennifer loves Special Olympics because this organization … Continue reading “Jennifer Palmer”

Meet Mary Ellen Eagle, she will be the coach for Bowling at USA Games for Team Washington. Coaching since 1976 once had 4 athletes under her belt and now is in charge of 95. Over her years of coaching she has had many memories but her favorite memory is when an athlete and her mom … Continue reading “Mary Ellen Eagle”

Savannah has been a Special Olympics coach for 4 years now and coaches athletics, flag football, and basketball. One of her favorite memories over the past 4 years is watching the sportsmanship that comes along with working with athletes. Savannah states “I have seen countless times athletes helping an opposing team member up, passing or … Continue reading “Savannah Seiple”

Michelle has been involved in coaching for 7 years and has gained nothing but joy from it. She is most excited for the opportunities these athletes will get to have while during the games. Her favorite memory is coaching teams that were just as excited for a bronze medal as they were to a gold … Continue reading “Michelle Fitzgerald”

SOWA is a safe place for Nicole. It has become a social environment where she has friends, peers, and teammates. When she was 5 years old her Mom began coaching athletes along with Nicole’s sister, so she attended practices just like her sister did. In 2009 Nicole began coaching her own teams and started a … Continue reading “Nicole Becker”

Mike Smith started coaching in the Special Olympics in May of 1991. Aiding the Special Olympics Populations with disabilities showing and teaching the athletes the meaning of life, success & self-accomplishments , this population of people / humans has always been short changed in life, Mike and his wife Wanda have dedicated their lives in … Continue reading “Mike Smith”

Sharon Boyle is well loved by her athletes and by her community. She has been working wtih Special Olympics for 36 years. She coaches bowling, soccer, basketball, athletics, and softball. She has also been a unified partner in softball and bowling. Sharon’s favorite memory was when her soccer team that is attending USA Games were … Continue reading “Sharon Boyle”

Tyler will be representing Team Washington as the assistant head of delegation. He first started being involved with the Special Olympics 11 years ago. Tyler is excited for USA Games because it gives Washington an opportunity to leave a legacy. Tyler’s favorite memory is when he was coaching soccer, he had coached this team for … Continue reading “Tyler Bjork”

Annalise is currently a Physical Therapist at IRG Gateway Physical and Hand Therapy in Mill Creek. Since moving to Snohomish, Annalise has regularly volunteered her time at the local games and participated in fundraising events. She is incredibly excited about her new role with SOWA and looks forward to using her background to influence more … Continue reading “Annalise DuSell”

All of Special Olympics Washington’s financial support emanates from the generosity of individuals and corporations who recognize the need to provide quality sports programs and training to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

Businesses and corporations are invited to help make a difference in the lives of Team Washington athletes and increase their level of social responsibility and community involvement while positively impacting their company’s bottom line.

All of Special Olympics Washington’s financial support The support and love from our Team WA Family Members is what keeps the Team WA athletes going. This page is designed to provide you with the necessary information that will allow you and your athlete the best possible experience at the 2018 USA Games.